Portable phonograph



Jan. 5, 1937. F. sci-"LER V PORTABLE PHONOGRPH Filed NOV. 24, 1934 ATTORNEY .Patented Jan.' s, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 7

In vGermany March Zt/1,933

.1 claim. (01.21 1) This invention relates to improvements in portablephonographs or the like, and it is the principal object of my invention to provide the phonograph casing with means for conveniently carrying the same, for instance by means of shoulder straps, on the back of the carrier with a suitable knapsack protected against shocks by pads or the like, whereby means are provided to prevent breaking of the record `carrying disk due to the motions of' the carrier during a. march and to avoid distortions of the tune.

Another object of my invention is the pro- Vvision'of a portable phonograph the needle of which is pressed against the record by means of a spring.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a portable phonograph equipped with means operated from the outside of its casing or knapsack forseparating the needle from the record.

A further object ofmy .invention is the provision of a portable phonograph equipped with means operated from the outside of its casing or knapsack for winding the spring of the operating mechanism.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a portable phonograph which may also conveniently be built into an auto, paddle boat or the like and which is of comparatively simple yet durable construction and highly efficient in its use and operation.

It will be evident that such a music instrument is highly serviceable for boy or girl scouts etc. on the march, replacing a music band, and furnishing by the playing of suitable tunes or pieces of music the necessary incentive for regulating the steps of the vmarchers.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds, and will then be specifically defined in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing forming a ma and ratchet wheel and pawl connected therewith.

As illustrated, Within a at box a having substantially the shape of a knapsack, is arranged the well known operating mechanism for the 5 rotating plate carrier disc b of a phonograph of' suitable construction, the disc being preferably made of wood, fibre or similar very light material.

The tonearm c made of thin sheet metal or 1o the like has attached thereto the sound box d made` of very light material. l

An arm e is provided below the tone arm an is readily movable about an axle f mounted between two pointed studs. To the outer end of the arm is attached one end of a light spring g or rubber band, the other end of which is secured to the tone arm c.

Furthermore, the tone arm c carries a small roller h mounted on its axle for somewhat lateral play. Below this roller h. a two-armed lever is mounted, the pivot point of which is carried by an arm secured to the box a.

At the end of the shorter arm of lever i a small spiral spring l is arranged which has the tendency to press the arm against the top pin m.

A pull rod n is guided from the end of the lever i through the box a and carries at its outer end a ring o or other suitable handle. Within a suitable compartment of the box a the front end of the winding spindle p for the operating mechanism of the phonograph carries firmly secured thereto a ratchet wheel q and behind the same the spindle p carries a pulley r the pawl s of which engages the ratchet wheel q. 15

'I'he rear face of the pulley has built into the same a. spiral spring t one end of which is attached to the pulley r and the other to the compartment wall.

A pull rope u. is guided about the pulley and 40 secured thereto at one end while its other end is guided from the box and carries outside thereof a handle v.

The spindle p is forwardly extended so that" it can also be operated by means of the customary crank. i

In^ order to protect the mechanism on thel outside of box a the same is equipped with a. cover w hinged thereto at one end.

- For holding the box a securely on the back oi' 50 a carrier the box is provided with the pads :rand the suspended bands y are provided to attach the instrument to the shoulders of the person carrying the same.

In operation the extremely light construction until the roller strikes against the stop pin rrr located in front of its pivot point.

If now the pull on ring is releasedrthe spring l will carry the lever back into its former position,l the, tone arm will be lowered again and the' needle again will engage the record plate and ,between lever i and the roller h will exist acertain play.

It will be clear that the tune arm may also" be returned into` its position. by. automatically acting'means or it may, as well as the device for pressing the needle against the record, be arranged within the box.

The winding of the drive or operating spring is effected by a repeated pull on handle v so that ago.

the rope u is unwound from its pulley r, and the same will turn in forward direction and carry along the ratchet wheel q and spindle p whereby the spiral spring t withinthe pulley will be tensioned. When the handle v is then released, the pulley will be turned backwards by the action of spring t while its pawl s slides along the ratchet wheel q.

If the instrument is to be used when built into automobiles, canoes, paddle boats etc., it is preferably elastically arranged within a specially constructed frame.

It will be understood that I have, described and shown the preferred form of my invention as one example only of the many possible ways to practically construct the same, and that I may make such changes in its general arrangement and in the construction of its minor details as come within the scope of the appended claim Without departure from the spirit of my'invention and the principles involved.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patehtis:

In a portable phonograph, particularly to be carried in vertical position during marching and including its operating mechanism, winding spindle, tone arm,'sound box and its record engaging needle, an arm turnable about its axle, a spring attached to said arm and to the tone .arm .to hold the needle against the record during the march ensuring an uninterrupted reproduction of the record, a roller carried by said tone arm having lateral play, a two-armed lever, one of its arms constituting an inclined plane engaged by said roller, a spring wound about the other arm of said lever extending to the outside of the phonograph and having a handle for liftingI the needle from the record to allow said roller to slide down said inclined plane for returning the tone arm into its original position during marching, a stop pin in front of the apex of said two-armed lever to be engaged by said roller when reaching the end of said inclined plane to allow the spring wound about the arm of said two-armed lever to again engage the needle with the record, a pulley on said winding spindle, a spring within said pulley and a rope attached to said pulley and extending to the outside of the phonograph and having a handle to Wind said spring and the operating mechanism of the phonograph while the same is carried.

FRITZ SCHILER. 

